Active clinical trials for "Head and Neck Neoplasms"

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of fenretinide in treating patients who have recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Combining more than one chemotherapy drug with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase I/II trial to study the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy plus radiation therapy in treating patients who have advanced mouth cancer.

Background: The drug R935788 (fostamatanib disodium) is a kinase inhibitor (i.e., it interferes with cell communication and growth and may prevent tumor growth). R935788 has shown promising activity in NCI-60 (a panel of 60 diverse human cancer cell lines) against colon cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and renal cell carcinoma cell lines, as well as in two renal cell xenograft models. This is an open-label, Phase II study of R935788. Phase I studies in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura, rheumatoid arthritis, and lymphoma have demonstrated safety with a continuous dosing schedule, and a maximum tolerated dose has been established. Objectives: To test an experimental drug called R935788 (fostamatinib disodium) for its ability to stop cancer growth signals, thus slowing the growth of cancer cells in laboratory testing. To determine the clinical response of R935788 administered orally twice a day on a continuous schedule in patients with colorectal carcinoma, pheochromocytoma, follicular or papillary thyroid cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, hepatocellular, carcinoma of the head and neck, and renal cell carcinoma. To evaluate the effects, safety, and biochemical response of R935788 therapy. Eligibility: Patients with colorectal carcinoma, pheochromocytoma, follicular or papillary thyroid cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (excluding squamous cell histology), hepatocellular cancer, carcinoma of the head and neck, and renal cell carcinoma whose disease has progressed after any therapy or who have no acceptable standard treatment options. Patients must have recovered from toxicities of prior therapies to at least eligibility levels. Patients who have received radiation or chemotherapy within 4 weeks of study enrollment are not eligible. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding are not eligible. Design: Researchers will conduct the following tests and procedures during the study: Clinic visits with a physical exam, including vital signs and blood pressure, every other week during cycle 1, and once a month starting with cycle 2. Blood will be drawn weekly during cycle 1, every other week during cycle 2, and once a month starting with cycle 3; urine tests will be conducted depending on results of blood tests. Imaging tests, such as computed tomography (CT) scans (a series of x-rays) or ultrasound (an examination using sound waves), will be done every 8 weeks while the patient is receiving R935788. R935788 will be administered orally twice a day for 28 days (one cycle). Imaging studies will be obtained every two cycles. Patients will fill in a diary to show when they took the medication and to note any side effects. The 28-day treatment cycle will be repeated as long as the patient is tolerating R935788 and the cancer is either stable or getting better. Researchers will conduct the following additional tests to see how the study is affecting the patient: Other research blood samples will be collected before treatment, at cycle 1 week 3, at the beginning of cycle 2, and at 8 weeks. Optional tumor biopsies will be requested before starting treatment, at cycle 1 day 28. Patients with specific lesions or tumors may be asked for an optional tumor biopsy on day 8.

RATIONALE: Diagnostic procedures, such as functional MRI, may help measure oxygen levels in tumor cells and may help in planning cancer treatment. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying functional MRI to see how well it works in finding hypoxia in patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy for stage III or stage IV head and neck cancer.

RATIONALE: Bortezomib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. It may also stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking blood flow to the tumor. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as docetaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving bortezomib together with docetaxel may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving bortezomib together with docetaxel works in treating patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as gemcitabine and doxorubicin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving gemcitabine together with doxorubicin works in treating patients with recurrent or progressive head and neck cancer.

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the activity (response rate and rate of stable disease) of Iressa administered as a single agent escalated to a dose that produces grade 2 skin toxicity in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of erlotinib hydrochloride when given together with cetuximab and to see how well they work in treating patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer, head and neck cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, or colorectal cancer. Erlotinib hydrochloride may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Erlotinib hydrochloride and cetuximab may also stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking blood flow to the tumor. Giving erlotinib hydrochloride together with cetuximab may kill more tumor cells.

Two new cancer treatment drugs called targeted therapies will be added to standard treatment for head and neck cancer to see if an improvement can be made in the effectiveness of treatment for this type of cancer. Treatment will include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and targeted therapy taken over a period of 4 months.

This phase II trial studies how well dasatinib works in treating patients with head and neck cancer that has come back or spread to other areas of the body. Dasatinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth.